PB knockoff buoys

I love Pottery Barn. I don’t think there is anything in their catalog or on their website that I wouldn’t love to have in our home. However, I don’t love the prices. So, when I saw these wooden buoys I thought to myself, “I can make those” and I did.

Pottery Barn Buoys

Well, only two so far. I haven’t been able to put my hands on a non-treated 4×4. Home Depot doesn’t sell them and I haven’t checked Lowes or Woodcraft yet. Does anyone know if it would be okay to use a treated 4×4? I am hesitant since they will be inside. I forgot to take “before” pictures of the wood, but I bought two scrap pieces of poplar 3x3s for $0.50 each at HD. Next I cut the tops with a 45º angle with the miter saw. (I’m hoping to borrow a miter saw that cuts 60º angles for the last one)

I painted them with regular acrylic pain, using painters tape to ensure straight lines.

Numbers printed

I printed the numbers off of the computer and traced over the paper with Sharpie. The marker bled through enough to see the outline on the blocks. Painted on the numbers and added some jute for the rope. Here they are (with a total cost of less than $5.50 for the pair)…

Did I mention that the best thing about making these is being able to pick numbers that have significance to you? The 417 stands for April 17, the day Matt & I met. 828 is for August 28, the day we got engaged. The last one will be 1231, December 31 is the day we were married. For those of you that don’t know us personally, all of those were in the same year. Yep, less than one year after meeting we were married (and bought a house). There is a lot of truth to the saying, “when you know, you know.” I fall more in love with him every single day.